This function is used when two or more duplicate taxa are found in taxonomic database. It is not possible just to delete the duplicate taxon, because texts within BioLib, external sites or search engine results (such as from Google) might already reference the taxon and by deleting the record the user opening the old URL would get "missing record" error.

"Invalidate taxon" function is used for merging (or synonymizing) two such taxa. Users are automatically redirected from old URL to the new one. Also all records (such as vernacular names, images, texts etc) associated with duplicate taxa are moved to the second taxon.

When you need to change scientific name or taxonomic position of existing taxon, please do not create new taxon and synonymize the old one, but add new name or change the position of the existing record.

"Invalidate taxon" function is accessible from "Edit taxon" form. You have to input ID of second taxon (it doesn't matter at this moment which taxon will be synonymized). See help topic Locating record ID. Form fields with ID selection for tips how to input record IDs effectively.

In following screen you can select which record will be merged (left as valid) and which will be synonymized (marked as duplicate to the merged record). You can also select new valid name, and - if different - also taxonomic rank and taxonomic position of the merged taxon.

It is not problem to leave older record (with lower ID) and automatically rewrite its name and position. Actually it is advisable to do so, because older records are more likely to be already referenced from external sites. If you for example create new taxon and later find out that the taxon already existed with different name in BioLib, synonymize these two, but please leave the old record as valid, but with new name and position. Leaving the more recent taxon is possible in cases that the newer record is close to it's age to the older one and if you think that there are more texts and external sites referencing the newer taxon (such as if the older taxon is misspelled or have rarely used valid name).

Scientific name of the taxon will be automatically set to selected of the two names (not depending on whether the older or newer record was left as valid). This also applies to taxonomic rank and position in system. Valid name of the synonymized taxon as well as all its synonyms (and other associated information) will be associated with the merged taxon.

It is advisable to merge taxa with same or close taxonomic rank, such as two species, subspecies with a species, two families and so on.